The Lanesboro City Council heard from several residents including Anna Loney and Phil Dybing regarding the Lanesboro Library during the public comments section of its May 6 regular meeting. Loney gave an update on library events, noting that there are a number of SELCO sponsored events coming up along with several things being planned by the Friends of the Lanesboro Library. Dybing asked that the issue at the library be resolved quickly so the library can continue going “as the wonderful asset it is.”
Cottage House Inn owners Andy Bunge and Allison Leathers spoke out in support of the permit application for Zach Lind’s food truck. Bunge noted that he often has to refer guests to neighboring towns for restaurants due to the limited options and hours of availability in Lanesboro. “I think Lanesboro’s a unique community,” he said, adding that he felt that there shouldn’t be any negativity towards someone who wants to come and invest in the community. Leathers said that some of the items of concern listed in the petition that has been circulating are the cost of doing business and that patron behaviors can’t be controlled, regardless of what the business is.
Michael Seiler, who serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission said that the goal of the petition was not to stop the business from operating in Lanesboro, but to have regulations for it put in place as it’s a new type of business for the area. He also said that he had concerns about the plans for the business being changed from a mobile food truck to having the wheels taken off to create a more permanent food stand, which, as of now, is a gray area in the city ordinances. He would like to have some regulations put in place that would address some of the concerns mentioned in the petition.
High Court Pub owner Jason Harvey said that he liked the concept and the food served when Lind’s food truck was parked in Lanesboro last summer, but that the rules needed to be followed before it could be a more permanent part of Lanesboro.
The consent agenda was approved and included the accounts payable, the hire of library substitute Bryn Pfeffer, and the resignation of Lanesboro EDA member Jason Resseman, as well as an agreement for the city of Lanesboro to act as the fiscal agent for “Light Up the Park.”
Mike Bubany with David Drown & Associates reviewed the updated Highway 250 project capital improvement plan with the council which included several different strategies for the project funding and the impact it would have on utility rates. He noted that the city may receive a better interest rate by obtaining an USDA loan rather than municipal bonds. “Adding something like this is not without significance,” he said, adding that he felt that the council has shown strength in dealing with cost increases, but that the city’s debt is elevated, complicating the process. He said that when it came to applying for grants and state funding, the argument could be made that the highway doesn’t just serve Lanesboro since the city is a destination for people from all over the state.
Kali Lentz from Smith Schafer was present at the meeting to review the City of Lanesboro and Lanesboro Public Utilities 2023 audit summaries. There were no issues with the audit and both received a clean, unmodified opinion.
City Engineer Brian Malm presented pay request #33 from Wapasha Construction. To date, 99.5% of the construction contract has been completed, and the final items on the punch list are required to be finished by May 10. The council approved the pay request.
Public Works employee Jerod Wagner noted that only six of the new meters are left to be installed.
Council member Mindy Albrecht-Benson reported that the Heritage Preservation Commission has moved its meetings from quarterly to monthly. The members are continuing to review the training binder and are also pursuing the possibility of designating some properties as locally historic.
An interim ordinance regarding downtown commercial land use was tabled.
A letter of intent between MnDOT and the city of Lanesboro for the Highway 250 project was discussed. City Administrator Mitchell Walbridge said that he had received positive feedback from nearby communities regarding their projects with MnDOT. The council had concerns with some of the verbiage in the letter and asked that clarifications be included in the letter. Malm recommended approving the letter contingent on the clarifications. Mayor Resseman noted that he would be more comfortable seeing the changes before approving the letter. The council passed a motion to table the approval of the letter.
An Arts and Mitigation Team from MnDOT and the U of M addressed the council on their initiative which includes using arts and culture to mitigate the disruption and negative impact that highway construction such as the Highway 250 project can have on businesses and residents. The initiative, which is still in its testing phases, strives to go beyond a detour to support local small businesses. Kayla Dean from MnDOT noted that while it is impossible to mitigate all harms during the project, they are hoping to liven the community to lessen the effect on businesses and continue to bring people to Lanesboro.
Council member Kathryn Wade was appointed to fill Mayor Resseman’s seat on the EDA board after his resignation.
Kate O’Neary from the Historic Preservation Commission addressed the council about the historic cabin in Sylvan Park. “What we have down in that park is a hidden gem,” she said. The cabin, built in 1926, is an Izaak Walton League cabin. HPC would like to have it designated as an historic spot in Lanesboro with an informational plaque placed in front. Mayor Resseman asked the HPC to create a decree suitable for the project to present to the council at their next regular meeting.
A parking closure application for Fall Into Lanesboro was approved for October 5, 2024.
A quote for a 2024 John Deere lawn mower from Preston Equipment in the amount of $4,200 was approved with the Park Board’s recommendation.
Two variance applications were approved, one for the construction of an attached garage on Kenilworth Avenue and the other for the construction of an exterior staircase on Elmwood Street.
The council reviewed the building permit application from Zach Lind. City attorney Joseph O’Koren said that he didn’t see anything objectionable in the application. The council approved the application.
The meeting was temporarily closed to due to attorney-client privilege to discuss potential litigation and an employee grievance letter.
It was the determination of the council that it was unclear whether or not the library board is self-governing, but regardless of that, the matter of the former library employee’s grievance letter was returned to the library board to handle.
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